Introduction

Babylonian Mythology originated with water. The gods arose from the mixture of sweet water, Apsu, with salt water, Tiamat. Apsu and Tiamat conceived Mummu, the god of the waves. They also gave birth to a pair of huge serpents, Lakhmu and Lakhamu. These serpents produced Anshar, the god of the heavens, and Kishar, the god of the earthly world. From them came the major goddesses and gods, Anu, Enlil, and Ea, and all the other gods of the sky, earth, and the underworld.

The salt water that the gods were created from

﻿Human Race

The gods were unhappy with the human race. They held a meeting and agreed to drown all of humans. Wishing to spare humans, Ea spoke up. One man, Uta-Napishtim, was instructed to build a ship for one family and all living creatures. Uta-Napishtim worked hard and completed the ship before the rains came. In six days and six nights, the earth was flooded and even the gods were fearful. On the seventh day the winds and rains game to an end. Everyone and everything, except for Uta-Napishtim and his family, had become mud. With the ship resting upon Mount Nisir, a bird was sent forth to find out if the waters had decreased enough to unload and the bird failed to return. Leaving the ship, Uta-Napishtim made a sacrifice to the gods. Enlil, the tempest god, was the only god disgruntled by the idea of the human race being spared. Enlil was swayed to agree by Ea’s gentle words. Enlil gave Uta-Napishtim and his wife the gift of life everlasting. Uta-Napishtim and his family are known to Christians as Noah and the Ark.

Written Myths

The first written Babylolian myth

In the poem, the god Marduk is created to defend the divine beings from an attack plotted by the ocean goddess Tiamat. Marduk offers to save the gods is he is aloud to become king of the whole land, without question and remains the leader even after the threat passes. The gods agree. Marduk wants a duel with Tiamat, and durring battle, Marduk kills Tiamat and rips her dead body into two. He takes the two pieces and makes Heaven and Earth. Marduk then creates the calendar, organizes the planets, stars and regulates the moon, sun, and weather.